No 3  Triumphant (But with Questions)

Job came through his evil day in triumph. We joy in his restoration because such a restoration for him may be like ours someday. Hope. That’s what hope does in a soul. 

Yet Job will still die. His ten replacement children will die. His loving wife (who bore him twenty children) will die. (Yes, loving! Wait till we talk about Mrs. Job!) And all his descendants through time have died. Many of them may have experienced deep trials in their lives as did their ancestor Job.

But many unanswered questions lingered. Scars. How did Job deal with the loss of his first ten children? They were not loved less than the last ten. And with them were the faithful servants and hired hands. Their lives were cut off and their families were devastated by their losses as well.

A Type

As Job’s on-going life was a type, so the ending of his life may be a type. How his life ended (in triumph) only very faintly reminds us of the final restoration awaiting us. We have the hope of a complete restoration through the gospel of Jesus Christ, of which, Job’s temporal restoration will never compare.

If we could only ask our questions. And Job had questions. Amid all his many questions--the supreme question of all being--"why did all this happen to me?" As far as we know, Job never did have that question answered. And the beauty of the Book of Job is that having that question answered is not the important thing. His answers will come to him one day. Those answers will be given to him by God Himself. And those answers will thrill him. In the meantime, what thrilled Job’s heart was that his Redeemer lives and that one day he would be with Him.

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold (Job 19:25-27).

In God’s timing, Job will have answers, as we.

Therefore don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God (1 Cor 4:5 HCSB).

“The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back the world into God’s favor. All that was lost by sin is restored. Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thousand years Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. Now God’s original purpose in its creation is accomplished. ‘The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ Daniel 7:18.” ---Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 342.

Questions about our lives, and how God has led us will be answered. It may, however, take a while. For the redeemed in heaven--“much of their time will be employed in searching out the mysteries of redemption. And throughout the whole stretch of eternity, this subject will be continually opening to their minds.” ---Ellen G. White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, March 9, 1886.

Are you waiting to have God personally answer your questions for you?

Opening Image by  Arek Socha from Pixabay

Please send questions or comments to Will Hardin at P O Box 24 Owenton KY 40359.